UConn’s Sarah Strong finds herself surrounded by inspiration as she prepares to kick off her college basketball journey.
“Walking into the gym, the great names are all around you,” said Strong, highlighting the practice facility adorned with banners celebrating all the national players of the year, All-Americans, and Olympic gold medalists who have graced UConn’s rich basketball legacy.
“It motivates me to reach that level one day.”

Recognized as the top recruit in the nation, Strong earned the title of 2024 Naismith national high school player of the year.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, she comes from a basketball family; her father, Danny Strong, played for N.C. State, while her mother, Allison Feaster, was a Harvard standout who competed in the WNBA from 1998 to 2008.

Having spent her early years in Spain, Strong relocated to North Carolina, where she led Grace Christian to three state championships in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.
As she joins the second-ranked Huskies, she aims to contribute to the team’s pursuit of its first national title since 2016.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma noted that off the court, Strong exhibits a shy and studious demeanor.
Initially cautious during practices in September and October, she has recently become more assertive, demonstrating the skills that made her a coveted recruit.

“I can genuinely say she’s as remarkable as any freshman we’ve seen in a long time, with a diverse skill set on the court,” Auriemma expressed.
“Each practice reveals something new from her, and I’m eager to witness her continual growth.”

The upcoming season is filled with promising freshmen poised to make significant impacts, following last year’s success, which saw two first-year players, JuJu Watkins from USC and Hannah Hidalgo from Notre Dame, recognized as first-team Associated Press All-Americans.

Mikayla Blakes, a guard for Vanderbilt, is expected to play a crucial role in advancing the team after their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
The 5-foot-8 player is a McDonald’s All-American and was named the 2024 Gatorade player of the year in New Jersey.
Blakes averaged 20.4 points, 3.6 steals, and 3.2 assists per game in her senior year, contributing significantly to Rutgers Prep’s state title runs.

Ohio State welcomes Jaloni Cambridge, a 5-foot-7 guard and Gatorade’s Tennessee player of the year during her junior year.
After transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida, she excelled as Gatorade’s Florida player of the year and a McDonald’s All-American as a senior.
“Jolani is a rare talent who has the potential to help us immediately,” remarked Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff.
Cambridge has family ties to basketball, with her brother Devan playing at Texas Tech.

Justice Carlton, a forward for Texas, joins two other highly regarded freshmen as the No. 4 Longhorns aim for an impactful season.
Having averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds in her junior year, Carlton’s presence bolsters Texas’s frontcourt depth despite a serious knee injury sustained in the summer of 2023.

South Carolina gains another formidable forward in Joyce Edwards, who steps into a crucial role following Kamilla Cardoso’s departure.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Edwards recently shone in the McDonald’s All-American Game, scoring 19 points and earning co-MVP honors alongside Strong.
Coach Dawn Staley intends to expand Edwards’s skillset during the season.
“We’ll push her to explore her full range of abilities,” Staley said, confident in her talent and mindset.

Kate Koval, a 6-foot-5 forward from Ukraine, also joins Notre Dame, where she garnered the 2022-23 Gatorade player of the year award while at Long Island Lutheran in New York.
Known for her exceptional passing, Koval contributed significantly in a recent exhibition, further strengthening a frontcourt dealing with injuries to key players.

Lastly, Syla Swords, a guard for Michigan, brings impressive credentials after joining the Canadian Olympic team and achieving the Gatorade player of the year title in New York.
With a successful high school career averaging 17.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, she adds her talent to Michigan’s roster as she hopes to make an immediate impact.
Swords also has basketball lineage; her father serves as an associate head coach in the NBA G League.